Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees president Steve Massengale embraces board Vice President Dan Pope during the Lubbock ISD board meeting on Monday. Pope is taking over Massengale as president of the Board of Trustees. (Shannon Wilson)

Steve Massengale was described by his fellow Lubbock Independent School District trustees as being a great leader, friend and someone who thrived in tough situations.

The ex-school board president and small-business owner ran in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 83 and did not seek re-election to the Board of Trustees. On May 19, Massengale officially vacated his at-large seat.

Though he’s not going to miss the twice-a-month 7 a.m. board meetings — which he’s already replaced with a morning workout routine — Massengale looks back on his time in office with fondness.

Massengale, 45, was elected to the board in 2006 and served as vice president from 2010-12 and president from 2012-14. He saw the district through many changes, including tax compression, the 2010 bond and three superintendents.

“One of the first things I remember — one of my first board meetings — was selling an empty school for $40,000,” Massengale said of the old Posey Elementary School building. “I was beside myself that we could only get that much for it.”

Meetings about terminating an employee for alcohol abuse soon followed, and thus began the learning curve and realizing running a school district and running his businesses — Advanced Graphix and The Matador — were not always similar.

“It was baptism by fire,” Massengale said.

Tenure highlights

Tax compression defined his first few years in office, he said. When the Legislature lowered property tax rates, school districts’ portions were cut, and LISD had to learn to work with less.

Simultaneously, the board saw the need for updates and long-term plans for LISD buildings, and in 2008, Massengale chaired the district’s first facilities committee. Through that, Massengale oversaw the building of Talkington School for Young Women Leaders and worked with citizens committees to prepare for the 2010 bond election.

Dan Pope, LISD board president, said he believes that bond package will be Massengale’s legacy.

“He was also instrumental in advocating for that bond in the community and I think was a big part of the reason that it passed,” Pope said. “Maybe most importantly, for the last four years he has made sure that what we promised the voters has been done.”

Massengale said his favorite memory of his eight-year tenure was that November 2010 election night when the bond package passed by a margin of 2 percent.

Knowing the impact the bond would have on every campus made that moment a highlight, he said.

Before stepping down last week, Massengale told the board he had grown up a Boy Scout. “One thing I was programmed to do was to leave it better than I found it.”

And Massengale is confident that’s the case. LISD is “more financially sound than it’s ever been, also more economically efficient, which promotes and supports academic success,” he said.

Pope called Massengale a “fabulous” school board member and president.

“He always had the time to do the job. He always listened a lot more than he talked, and he was at his best when things were most critical or when times were tense,” Pope said.

What’s next

Massengale said he isn’t sure what life holds next for him, but he’s considering many options.

Though he’s been approached about running for the state Senate position — which Sen. Robert Duncan will be vacating in favor of the Texas Tech chancellorship — Massengale said he doesn’t feel the timing is right for him. He’s more interested in the District 83 seat he once ran for if Rep. Charles Perry moves to the Senate.

Massengale said the House seat will be filled by appointment, with county party chairs deciding who will appear on the ballot.

“I would be excited about the opportunity to interview during that process,” Massengale said.

He’s not ruling out a future run for mayor either.

But for now he’s trading in the suit and tie for business casual. Massengale said he’s going to spend his newfound free time with family and employees while still making himself available to the LISD Board of Trustees for support.

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All individuals that run for public office need to look deep within and PAST the point of: How can/will/is this position going help ME personally? Will this position help my personal bottom line, I.e. my personal bank account?